Multiple-copying machine.



J. 1. FLANIGAN.

MULTIPLE COPYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED NOV. 8. 1915.

1 1 97,6 1 7. Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

J. J. FLANIGAN.

MULTIPLE COPYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8. 1915.

latentedbept. 12, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1.1. FLANlGAN. MULTIPLE COPYING MACHINE.

APPLlCATiON FILED NOV. 8. 1915.

1,1 97,6 1 7. Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

fnyenl or Vl lineas UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. FLANIGAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR -TO IDUPLICATOR MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

MULTIPLE-COPYING MACHINE.

Application filed November 8, 1915.

type, and has reference moreparticularly to that class of such machines employing a flat printing .bed supported on a suitable frame, a duplicating band or apron stretched thereover between receiving and delivery spools. and a removable impression device including a platen roll that is normally rolled over the bed in order to in'ipress both the master sheet andithe copy sheetson the portion of the'gelatin apron or .band that is supported by the The primary-and general object of the in vention -is to produce a machine of this type that shall be of simpleand durable construction, economical to manufacture. easy to manipulate, not liable to get out of order. and shall be capable of neat, accurate and reliable work. I I

More. specific objects-are, to provide a means for initially positioning and squaring the removable impression device relatively to the bed at, the head end of the machine, t o provide-fan improved means for squaring the paper sheet relatively to the bed preliminary, to rolling the same out over-the latter, to provide an improved automatic lockfor the platen roll of the impressiondevice which shall hold the roll upon the bed during the rolling operation and shall be automatically released for the insertion of the. paper sheet when'the impression device is in starting position. to provide. in association with a transverse gage bar, an improved means for gripping the upper end portion of a sheet in the impression device and forcing the'same down onto the bed without'disturbing the correct registration of the end of the sheetwith the gage bar. to provide an improved manner and means of supporting the bed plate removablv on the frame structure of the. machine. to provide a convenient storage receptacle for containing and preserving the gelatin apron and its carrying spools when not in use, as in storage or shipment to pro- Spcciflcation 0! Letters Yatent.

Patented Sept.

Serial No. 60,251.

vide an improved bearing for the spools of the apron, and to provide animproved 'automatic gravity lock or detent for said spools.

Other minor objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification, in which Figure- 1 is atop plan view showing theplaten carriage in starting'position at the .head end of the machine and 'a sheet of paper introduced therein; Fig.2 is a side elevation of the machine asviewedfrom the left of Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is "a' longitudinal section taken on the line 3'-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail -vertical section through the-head end of the bed and the platenzcarriage showing the latter part-Way adVanCed over the bed in the operation'of vrollingout a paper sheet thereon; Fig. 5 'is ansect-ional-ldetail on the line 55 of Figal; Fig.- 6 is a sectional detail at right-angles taunt-cf Fig. on the line H 'of Figlfi; Fig-:7 is

a detail view partly in elevationand partly.

in vertical section on theli ne; 7 70f Fig. 1, showing one of thespool bearingson one side of the machine; Fig. S'is a detail view in longitudinal sectionthrough the windin; chuck of the receiving spool; and Fig. 9 is an elevation of one of the duplicate spools on which the copying apronor'band is wound.

'lef crring to the drawings and describing first the stationary frame structure, 10 dcsignateseach of a pair of parallel vertical side plates that are rigidly connected and spaced at their lower portions by cross bars 11 (Fig. 3). the ends of which are turned down to form legs 12 and are sccured to the. side plates by bolts or rivets 1 2.

H designates each of a pair of distancerods that rigidly connect and space the upper portions of the side plates 10 above the cross bars 11. and form supports for a removable bed plate 171. This latter, as is best shown in Fig. 3. has attached to its opposite sides near its front and rear ends front and rear angle brackets 16 and 17 respectively. The dcpeinling portions of the brackets 16 are \'ci'ti ':ill slotted or forked as shown at l to straddle and rest upon the forward didaucc rod H. and the rear brackets 17 are b rizontalbv slotted or lorkcd as shown at 19 to' similarly engage the rear distance rod 14 under a horizontal sliding movement. To remove the bed plate its forward end is raised until the brackets 16 clear the forward distance rod 14, and then by a slight forward movement the rear brackets 17 are drawn clear of the rear distance rod 14. The bed plate is put in place by the converse of these operations performed in the inverse order in a manner readily understood. The bed plate is preferably furni'shed with a cloth covering 20 stretched thereover and suitably secured thereto, and the described removability of the bed plate is mainly for securing greater compactness and convenience in shipping and storing and also greater convenience in cleaning the machine when necessary. The described mounting of the bed plate also enables it to be tilted up on its rear hinges to afford access to an underlying storage receptacle, hereinafter described.

Over the bed plate is stretched the usual gelatin duplicating apron or band 21, the end portions of which are wound on a pair of duplicate spools 22, one of which is located at the head end of the machine and constitutes the receiving spool while the other is located at the tail end of the machine and constitutes the delivery spool.

- When the band has been exhausted fromthe delivery spool and wound up on the receiving spool, the two spools are removed and interchanged and the band is then rewound in the same direction, orthe spools may be left in place and the band rewound in the reverse direction. By reference to Fig. 9 it will be observed that the heads of each spool have formed thereon or otherwise rigid therewith a longitudinally projecting squared portion 22 and projecting longitudinally ofthe latter a cylindrical bearing spindle 22 that is coaxial with the body of the spools, the two ends of the spool being duplicates. At the head end of the machine one end of the spool thus formed is entered into a winding chuck 23 (Fig. 8) that is journaled in one of the frame plates 10 and is provided with a crank arm 24. The inner end of the chuck has a transverse slot 25 that receives the squared portion 2? of the spool, and inwardly thereof a socket 26 that receives the cylindrical bearing spindle22 Fast on the chuck is a ratchet disk 27 that is normally engaged by a gravity detent,28, Fig. 3, this latter being pivoted to the inner face of the side frame 10 on a pivot pin 29 and having an upward extension 30 that, when on one side of a vertical line holds the detent engaged with the ratchet, and when swung to the opposite side of the vertical line maintains the detent out of engagement with the ratchet. The last described structure for supporting one end of the spool is duplicated at the tail end of the machine, with the exception that a turning knob 31, Figs. 1 and 2, is substituted for the crank 24.

The opposite ends of the spools are journaled in duplicate but reversely positioned bearings, one of which-that at the tail end of the maohineis illustrated in detail in Figs. 1 and 7, and consists of a U-shaped bracket 32 secured to the inner side of one of the side plates 10 and formed in its intermediate portion with a bearing 33 for the cylindrical bearing spindle 22 of the spool, the latter bein introduced to the bearing through a continuous downwardly, horizon tally and upwardly extending slot or entrance way, designated as an entirety by 34. The spindle is maintained in the bearing by an underlying spring 35 which may readily be depressed to permit the passage of the spindle through the slot 34 when the same is being introduced or withdrawn.

At the up )er or head end of the bed-plate are mounted a. pair of upstanding brackets 36 consisting of thin fiat metal plates that are conveniently attached to the bed plate by inwardly bent lateral extensions 36, these latter conveniently lying between the under surface of the bed-plate and the bed-platesu 'iporting brackets 16 and'conveniently secured by the same screw bolts or rivets 37 that secure the brackets 16 in place (Fig. 3).

()n and between these brackets 36is pivotally mounted a gage bar 38 of angle form, Fig. 4, that is carried on a pair of arms 39 that are pivoted at 40 to the inner faces of the brackets 36. The gage bar 38 is normally supported directly opposite and flush with the head end of the bed 15 by pins 41 in the inner faces of the brackets 36 on which the free ends of the arms 39 rest. \Vhen the gage bar is swung upwardly and outwardly to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4 in order to permit the introduction of the receiving spool to its bearings, the arms 39 come to rest against similar stop pins 42.

The bracket members 36, aside from forming a support or carrier for the gage bar, also have an important function as a means for accurately supporting, positioning and squaring the platen carriage in accurate position for the introduction of a sheet of paper that is to be rolled out by the platen carriage over the bed. For this purpose the upper edges of the brackets 36 are each formed with notches 43 and 44, as most clearly shown in Figs.2 and 4. which notches intimately cooperate with devices on the platen carriage in the manner hereinafter particularly described.

Considering now the impression device by which the paper sheets are impressed on the flat surface of the printing apron or band, I desire to note at the outset that this device is entirely unconnected to and re brackets with the handle in depressed It is desirable to lock the platen roll in its lowered or working position before starting and during the traveling movement of the carriage and to automatically release it when the carriage has been returned to initial or paper-receiving position. It is also desirable. to limit the swinging movements of theyoke which carries the platen roll. These results are obtained by the. following described mechanism. The upper edges of the'frame plates 45 are cut away in the form of notches (53. the ends of which form stops-that cooperate with laterally.projecting lugs 64 on the upper ends of a pair of uprights 65 that are mounted onthe inner sides of the yoke arms 53, said lugs til striking the upper ends of the notches 3 when the'handle is in its lowermost position. and

striking the lower ends of said notches hen the handle is in its most elevated position. To effect the automatic locking of the yoke when the handle is raised and the platen roll is in working position, I pivot on the outer side of one of the frame plates 45 of the carriage (Fig. 2) an elbow lever no. the upper arm (37 of which is formed as a latch member adapted to interlock with one of the lugs (H. while its lower arm (32* has a laterally projecting linger (39 that. when the carriage is mounted on the guide brackcts l i of the frame. rides on the upper edge of the adjacent bracket 36 and holds the latch arm 67 of the lever disengaged from the. lug (3t against the action of a spring 70 tending to draw said latch arm down into locking cn Eagement with the lug (14. As soon as the andle has been raised suliiciently to force the paper. by means of the platen roll, down onto the printing surface the spring it) acts to swing the latch (37 down over the lug as shown in Fig. 4, and the yoke and platen roll are thereby locked in working position. A stop pin 71 below the arm (38 limits the downward swing of the locking lever when the impression device may be off the guide position.

As machines of this character frequently stand idle for considerable periods of time it desirable to preserve the duplicator hand from dirt. the drying effects of the atmosphere and possible injury. in so far as possible, and for this purpose I have devised a simple and practicz'd receptacle convenicntly located in the machine frame for storing the band when not in use so that it comes out in practically the condition in which it was put away This receptacle comprises a metal cylinder T2 (Fig. 3) having the general form of an elongated tin can with a tight fitting cap or cover. said receptacle being supported between the side frame plates' of the machine by means of a pair of semi-circular straps or st-irrups T3 secured to the latter. When the bed plate is tilted up or removed the can 72 may be readily lifted from its supports, opened, and the duplicating band and its spools withdrawn and mounted on the machine. \Vhen the receptacle is closed, it obviously protects the contents from dirt. dust and possible injury; and. while not absolutely air tight it is practically so, holding the moisture and preventing the rapid drying out of the gelatin band.

In the operation of the device the removable platen frame or carriage is first placed at its initial or starting position supported on the guide brackets at the head end of the bed. and the handle is swung down. thereby separating the rolls and pern'iitting the in ertion of the advance edge of a paper heet therelwtween into abutting engagement with the gage bar. the sheet being squared by the latter and one side of the paper guide 47. The handle is then swung upwardly which causes the paper sheet to be gripped between the two rolls and its advance portion forced down onto the bed, during which operation any rotative movement of the platen roll is prevented by the brake device. thereby insuring the engagement of the paper with the gage bar during this operation and thus preventing any dislocation of the paper from proper position. The handle is then further elevated carrying therearmost studs out of engagement with their seats in the guide brackets. whereupon the handle yoke is locked holding the platen roll in its lowered position and the platen carriage is then pushed forwardly, rolling the sheet out on and over the printing surface. The adhesion of the paper sheet to the gelatin printing surface and its engagement with the two rolls between which it is rolled out suflices toinsure the straight forward movement of the carriage to the end of its travel in the absence of any abnormal sidewise movement imparted by the operator.

I claim:

1. In a multiple copying machine, the combination with a printing bed, of a removable impression device movable thereover. and means at one end of said bed ('0- operating with said impression device to support the latter in proper starting position elevated above the plane of the bed.

In a i'nultiple copying machine, the combination with a printing bed. of a removable carriage carrying a platen roll adapted to be rolled over said bed. and means at one end of said bed cooperating with said carriage to support the latter in proper starting position elevated above the plane of the bed.

3. In a multiple copying machine. the combination with a printing bed. of a gage bar opposite the head end of said bed. a removable carriage carrying gripping and platen rolls adapted to travel over said bed,

and means at the head end of said bed supporting said carriage in a starting position elevated above the plane of the bed and cooperating with said carriage and gage-bar ioiccurately position a paper sheet on said 4. In a multiple copying machine, the combination of a printing bed, a removable platen carriage adapted to travel over said bed, and guide brackets located at opposite sides of the head end of said bed serving to support and position said carriage elevated above the plane of the bed for the reception of a paper sheet to be impressed on said bed.

5. In a multiple copying machine, the combination of a printing bed, a removable platen carriage adapted to travel over said bed and provided with a laterally projecting stud on each side thereof, and a pair of guide brackets located at opposite sides of the head end of said bed, each of said brackets having a seat adapted to be engaged by a stud on the adjacent side of said carriage to support the latter above and in starting position relatively to the bed.

6. In a multiple copying machine, the combination of a rinting bed, a removable platen carriage a apted to travel over said bed and provided with a plurality of laterally pro ecting spaced studs on each side thereof, and a pair of guide brackets located at opposite sides of the head end of said bed, each of said brackets having a plurality of spaced seats adapted to be engaged by the studs on the adjacent side of said carriage to support the latter above ing in starting position relatively to the 7. In a multiple copying machine, the combination of a printing bed, a removable platen carriage adapted to travel over said bed and provided with a plurality of laterally pro ecting spaced studs on each side thereof, and a pair of upstanding guide brackets secured to and projecting above the head end of said bed on opposite sides of the latter respectively, each of said brackets being formed in its upper edge with a plurality of notches adapted to seat the studs on the adjacent side of the carriage and thereby support the latter above anal in starting position relatively to the 8. In a multiple copying machine, the combination with a printing bed, of a platen carriage having a gripping roll and a cooperating platen roll, the latter movable bodily toward and from said bed, means for separating said rolls to permit the insertion of a paper sheet between them, and means to prevent turning of said platen roll on its own axis while forcing the inserted end of said sheet down onto said bed.

9. In a multiple copying machine, the

combination with a printing bed, of a platen carriage having a gripping roll and a cooperating platen roll. the latter movable bodily toward and from said bed, a gagebar opposite the head end of said bed, means for separating said rolls to permit the insertion of a paper sheet between them into abutting engagement with said gagebar, and means to prevent turning of said platen roll on its own axis while forcing the inserted end of said sheet down onto said bed.

10. In a multiple copying machine, a platen carriage. a bodily movable platen roll mounted in said carriage, a spring pressed gripping roll normally urged toward said platen roll, and a brake device for preventing the turning of said platen roll on its own axis during its bodily movement under the pressure of said gripping roll.

11. In a multiple copying machine, in combination, a printing bed, a platen carriage, platen carriage supporting and positioning guide brackets located at the head end of said bed, a pivoted yoke member on said carriage carrying a platen roll, a laterally projecting locking lug carried by an arm of said yoke member, a latch lever pivoted on said carriage, a spring normally urging said latch lever into holding engagement with said locking lug, and a projection on said latch lever adapted through engagement with one of said brackets to retract said latch lever from engagement with said locking lug.

12. In a multiple copying machine, the combination with a frame structure including a pair of distance rods connecting the side members of the frame, of a removable bed plate having depending forked brackets 105 straddling said distance rods.

13. In a multiple copying machine, the combination with a frame structure including a pair of distance rods connecting the side members of the frame, of a removable 110 bed plate having two pairs of depending forked brackets straddling said distance rods, one pair of said brackets being vertically forked and the other pair being horizontally forked. 115

14. In a multiple copying machine, the combination with a supporting frame structure, of a removable bed plate mounted on said frame structure and forming a support for the working portion of a copying apron, 120 and a pair of guide brackets secured to the head end of said bed plate and serving to support an impression device above and in starting position relatively to said bed plate.

15. In a multiple copying machine, the 125 combination with a frame structure of a bed plate movably mounted thereon, and a storage receptacle for the copying apron constructed to inclose and protect the same, said receptacle being mounted on said frame 180 beneath said bed plate and having a closing cover independent of said bed plate.

16. In a multiple copying machine, the combination with a frame structure including parallel side frame members. and a bed plate rcmovably mounted on said frame structure, of supporting devices secured to the inner sides of said side frame members, and a normally closed storage receptacle for the copying apron removably resting at its ends on said supporting devices beneath said bed plate.

17. In a multiple copying machine, the combination with a frame structure including parallel side plates, and a bed plate removably mounted on said frame structure, of hangers secured to the inner sides of said side plates beneath said bed plate, and :1 normally closed cylinder for storing the copying apron removably supported at its ends on said hangers beneath said bed plate.

18. A multiple copying machine comprising a frame provided with ribbon spool bearings, one of said bearings consisting of a slot having an open ended vertical portion, a closed ended vertical portion and a horizontal portion joining said vertical portions, and a spring arranged to hold an end of a spool in the closed end of said slot.

JOHN J. FLANI-GAN. 

